The City of Austin has opened its doors again this year to the public to participate in GIS Day at City Hall. This will be the City's 9th annual celebration. GIS Day is part of "Geography Awareness Week", an international event that started in 1987 and is celebrated during the third week of November to promote the importance of geography. It is held on the Wednesday of Geography Awareness Week, and is hosted by secondary schools, universities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private agencies.

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and manages data and associated attributes that have a geographic component. GIS is important because "everything is somewhere". Approximately 95% of all databases have a geographic component. It is a technology that ties the community together by representing the world in spatial terms.

At this year's GIS Day, approximately 10 different City departments will have booths showcasing their daily applications using GIS. There will be special guest speakers from ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute); the Univeristy of Texas at Austin and PODER (People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources); the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority); and TNRIS (Texas Natural Resource Information System). Eight City employees will give presentations of special projects that utilized GIS. In addition to guest speakers, City presentations, and booths, there will be a Map Gallery and award ceremony for "People's Choice - Best Map". This event will also be an excellent opportunity for GIS users to exchange ideas and meet other GIS professionals. Refreshments, including the famous GIS Day cookies will also be provided. Please join us for an exciting day of geographic jubilation!